My Top Ten Albums of 2005.
I don’t have some great introduction paragraph in mind for this list. Instead, I’m going to kick it off with a disclaimer. Think of it as one of the few times in life someone is kind enough to give you the small print up front rather than after you’ve made the investment. This top ten list is comprised of albums that were new to me in 2005. Not all of them came out in 2005. However, they were new to me. Each of our lives is our own and we can only experience the world through our own senses. In the past 365 days, my senses were privy to these records. I did not purchase anything on this list before January 1st, 2005. However, the records on this list that came out prior to ‘05 should have been picked up the day they were released. Feel free to condescend me and call my list illegitimate for not being a true “Best of 2005.” Just don’t expect me to listen.
10. – The Hold Steady: Separation Sunday
Follow me around long enough and you’ll hear me make fun of this band more often than I’d like to admit. Their “singer” is an acquired taste. Fo’ reals. Fortunately, the lyrics and the rock band behind his “voice” are quite good. Word on the street is that these dudes like to drink beer and play really loud, which is usually enough to get on any of my favorite lists. There seems to be some sort of underlying theme and concept to this album too. Something about fond memories, growing up and someone named Charlemagne. I can’t put my finger on it, but this album that reminds me of being a teenager sitting on my floor playing guitar with my legs crossed, rocking out to Lynard Skynard and AC/DC. Those are really good memories, and any album that takes me back to that place deserves its praise.
9. – Coldplay: X&Y
They recycled Kraftwerk, regurgitated their second album with more reverb, and became one of the most over hyped bands of 2005. Doesn’t sound like a winner, does it? If you ignore all of that and take this album for what it is, an arena rock classic, you’ll find some pretty rewarding stuff on here. Yeah, “Fix You” is the cheesiest fucking thing I’ve ever heard, but I bet it got Chris Martin laid a bunch. And THAT, my dearest reader, is why dudes write songs in the first place. Don’t ever believe any bullshit you may hear about some rocker who wants to make a “statement” or be “political.” These guys do a good job of being the biggest band in the world not called Green Day.
8. – Yes: Fragile
Steve Howe is my dad. Chris Squire slays. Bill Bruford has three arms. Rick Wakeman has 12 fingers. Jon Anderson’s voice makes my spleen hurt. These guys are everything that The Mars Volta wishes they were. Seriously, “Heart of the Sunrise” runs circles around everything on Frances the Mute. If you like prog, then you already own this record. If you think you might like prog, then this is a good fucking place to start. Did I mention Steve Howe is my dad? But Justin, it came out in the 70s, it can’t be on a 2005 best of! Yes it can.
7. – Dungen: Ta Det Lugnt
“Dolft de lang du pluuuuuuume, me dorf ni da nay soooooo” At least that is what it sounds like he is saying on the bizarrely titled, “Panda.” Maybe I’m ignorant, but that sure doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with fucking Panda bears. Okay, I’ll quit trying to be funny and put it to you in a more serious tone: this record is really, really fucking fabulous. I didn’t know they grew such killer ’shrooms in Sweden. Apparently they do because Gustav Estes knows his way around psychedelic rock. There are a zillion bands in this world in 2005 and none of them pull this stuff off as well as these guys.
6. – The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
Carl Newman is a better songwriter than me. In fact, he’s a better songwriter than most of us. I played this record one time through and loved it. I played it again and realized that all the songs were already permanently stitched into my brain. Listen to “Bleeding Heart Show” or “Sing Me Spanish Techno” and try not to have a good time. It’s nice to know there are still people out there who understand how to make an intelligent, yet simple rock record. This record also gets a nod because it is the best album made by a band with more than ten Canadians in the lineup. I have nothing against Canadians. In fact, I think Canada makes some pretty groovy people. However, another Canadian band with too many fucking people really disappointed me this year. I don’t know what was broken, but their crappy record just didn’t make it into my social life. I guess I’m not part of that scene.
5. – Doves: Some Cities
I love this band. These guys are so good at layering instruments and adding depth to their sound. This record is more of their trademark sound. It isn’t quite as impressive as Last Broadcast, but what is? Doves make orchestral ambiance and then build a solid pop rock song over it. There aren’t many bands that can do that. These guys, however, do it better than anybody. I’m always a sucker for a good single and “Black and White Town” is one of the most unique rock singles I’ve ever heard. Some Cities also gets some dap because it is the best record from a three piece this year.
4. – Kanye West: Late Registration
Cliché isn’t it? Putting Kanye West in the top five. I’m not trying to be trendy, I promise! I publicly said that I was under whelmed with this record and I was “over it” only a few months after I bought it. The truth is, I got burnt out so quick because it was the only album I listened to for about 6 weeks. There are three reasons why this album is ranked this high. First, Jay Z’s verse in “Diamonds of Sierra Leone.” Second, the song “Testify.” The number one reason is that kazoo-like synth that comes in toward the end of “Gold Digger”. That, my friends, is how you drop a fucking beat. This is a good album. You should buy it.
3. – Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
One of the most diverse albums I’ve ever heard. There are ballads, rockers, experimental stuff, instrumentals, short songs, long songs, and everything else you can do with guitar and drums music. I really get off on music that has a lot of layers, and I have a million analogies I can make to describe how much fun I had listening to this masterpiece in 2005. In addition to the majesty of the compositions, Sufjan has such an angelic voice. His vocal on “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” makes me want to cry. Lyrically it blows me away too. When he says “When I was crying in a van with my friends, it was for freedom from myself and from this land” I get goose bumps every fucking time I hear it. Records like this come along only once in a great while.
2. – The Frames: Burn the Maps
Best organic instrument driven headphone album ever made. I’ve heard louder records, and I’ve heard angrier records. I just don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite like this. Everything is so subtle and the textures are so rich. These guys whisper on this record with more passion and force than I thought was possible. Every track is stellar. I really don’t have much more to say. If it not for the next entry on this list, this would be my top record of the year. Absolutely brilliant, 10/10.
1. – Mastodon: Leviathan
There are few things that are certain in life. We will all die someday. You have to pay taxes. You will never find an album that slays more than Leviathan. Fans of early Metallica could put up a very strong argument here, but ultimately, they too will fall by this Atlanta quartet’s blade. Mastodon came to this planet to remind us that rock music can be the most volcanic art form in all of humanity. I bought this used at Amoeba Music in San Francisco. When I played it for the first time, I had that feeling that I was in the presence of greatness. There has only been four times in my life that I heard something that was so complete and so good that it made me want to completely give up writing music. First (and still foremost) was seeing The Song Remains the Same for the first time. I had a really humbling experience a couple years ago when Kid A came out. I remember hearing that and thinking, “there is no way any human can make that music, I quit.” Watching Matt Bellamy, the biggest musical freak I’ve ever seen, live was quite an experience. Right up there is the first time I heard this album. There is no need to point out individual tracks, just buy the album.
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